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EFCC arrests Energy Commission DG over alleged N500bn fraud

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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EFCC arrests Energy Commission DG over alleged N500bn fraud

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the Director-General (DG) of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences.

Reports said sources within the anti-graft agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed on Wednesday that Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja and had since been held by the commission.

The ICIR contacted the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, for confirmation, but he declined calls placed to his line. He also did not respond to WhatsApp and text messages sent to him when filing this report.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Abdullahi as DG and chief executive officer of the commission on October 24, 2023, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s energy transition and renewable energy drive.

Abdullahi is a mechanical engineer and energy expert. He hails from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, although he was born in Kano State in January 1985. Before his appointment as the commission’s DG, he served as senior technical adviser and chief of staff to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.

He studied Mechanical Engineering at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology and later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Salford. He also earned a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester, where his research focused on renewable energy and structural health monitoring in the oil and gas sector. Following his doctorate, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship as a research associate at the same institution.

Court jails ex-power minister Mamman for 75 years over N33.8bn fraud

Mustapha USMAN
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Court jails ex-power minister Mamman for 75 years over N33.8bn fraud

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over a ₦33.8 billion money laundering case linked to alleged diversion of public funds.

Mamman was found guilty on all 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a prolonged trial that began following his arrest in May 2021, shortly after he left office.

He served as minister of power between 2019 and 2021, during which prosecutors alleged that he conspired with ministry officials and private companies to divert and launder funds tied to major power infrastructure projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric schemes.

According to court filings and EFCC statements, the charges against him bordered on conspiracy, money laundering, and the unlawful conversion of funds amounting to ₦33,804,830,503.73.

The EFCC also accused the convict of making large cash payments outside the financial system, including a $655,700 transaction alleged to have violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

He was arraigned on July 11, 2024, but pleaded not guilty.

The ICIR reported that earlier proceedings also experienced disruptions, including delays linked to the defendant’s absence and reports of health-related interruptions in court.

Delivering the judgment on his conviction earlier on May 7, the presiding judge, James Omotosho, held that Mamman was guilty on all counts and deferred sentencing after noting that the former minister was not physically present in court during the judgment session.

However, on Wednesday May 13, the court proceeded to sentence him to seven years imprisonment on 10 counts, three years on one count, and two years on another, with the terms ordered to run consecutively.

The judge ruled that the sentence would run without an option of fine, except on count four, which carried a N10 million fine option.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of assets traced to him, including foreign currencies recovered during investigation and four high-value properties in Abuja linked to the convict.

Obasa ends 23-year spell at Lagos Assembly, eyes Reps’ seat

Mustapha USMAN
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Obasa ends 23-year spell at Lagos Assembly, eyes Reps’ seat

THE Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has declared his intention to contest for the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress.

In a statement on Wednesday, May 13, Obasa said he announced his ambition on Tuesday in the presence of party leaders, stakeholders, loyalists, and supporters.

He said the move marked the beginning of “another chapter” in his legislative career after over two decades in the Lagos Assembly.

“After two decades and three years of representing the good people of Agege Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, and serving for over a decade as Speaker, I believe the time has come to begin another chapter in my legislative journey,” he said.

The lawmaker said the decision was driven by a renewed commitment to serve the people on a broader platform while building on the experience and relationships he had developed during his years in public office.

Obasa also thanked the residents of Agege for what he described as their trust and support since he was first elected into the Assembly.

He stressed that the focus of party members should remain the continued growth and development of Agege and Lagos State.

“As we move forward, I urge our party faithful and the good people of Agege to extend the same support to my brother, Hon. Kola Egunjobi, as he aspires to represent Agege Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as Azeez Oladapo Yusuf Ninolowo for Agege Constituency II.

“Our collective focus must remain the continued growth, stability, and development of Agege and Lagos State as a whole. I am confident that with unity, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of our party, we will continue to achieve even greater progress together,” he added.

Obasa is one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the Lagos Assembly and one of the most influential figures in Lagos politics under the APC.

The lawmaker began his political career as a councillor in Agege Local Government between 1999 and 2002 before moving to the state legislature in 2003.

He has been representing Agege Constituency I in the Assembly since 2003. He was elected Speaker in 2015 and has retained the portfolio since.

Recall that on January 13, Obasa was suspended by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative House over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.

Following his removal, his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, emerged as the first female Speaker of the Assembly.

However, during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja, held on Saturday, January 25, Obasa declared that he remained the speaker despite his replacement by his deputy.

The leadership crisis in the Assembly later shifted in Obasa’s favour after Meranda resigned in March 2025 following interventions by APC leaders in the state, paving the way for his reinstatement as Speaker.

Obasa has also faced allegations of corruption and financial impropriety during his tenure as Speaker, allegations he has consistently denied.

FG to pay N8bn to stranded foreign scholarship beneficiaries

Esther Tomo
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FG to pay N8bn to stranded foreign scholarship beneficiaries

THE MINISTER of Education, Tunji Alausa, has announced the approval of N8 billion for the settlement of outstanding obligations owed to Nigerian students under the now-scrapped Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme.

Alausa disclosed this Tuesday night during an interview on Channels Television. He said the intervention aimed at clearing arrears after months of delays that left several students stranded abroad without stipends.

He said half of the amount had already been released, while the remainder would be approved within weeks.

“We’ve paid four billion of it. We’re disbursing the four billion now. This additional four billion will be approved. I’ve been in constant communication with Minister of Finance. It will be approved in the next two weeks,” he said.

The minister also defended the decision to discontinue the programme, arguing it had been weakened by mismanagement and diversion from its original purpose. He said the scheme was meant to support specialised training abroad but had expanded beyond its intent over time.

Alausa cited questionable approvals, including proposals to sponsor students for unrelated courses abroad.

He also decried cases where beneficiaries allegedly received funds while still enrolled in Nigerian universities, a situation he described as unacceptable.

The BEA scheme, which involved partnerships with countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt and Serbia supported hundreds of Nigerian students abroad before its suspension. Government spending on the programme reportedly rose from N3.2 billion in 2022 to N8 billion in 2025.

Meanwhile, the minister dismissed concerns that Nigeria was experiencing exodus of students to foreign universities, insisting that the trend had dropped significantly under the current administration.

He argued that recent investments in Nigeria’s tertiary education system were improving stability and made local institutions more attractive to students.

Responding to data suggesting that Nigeria was among the top countries for outbound student mobility in 2023, the minister described the figures as outdated and not reflective of present realities.

“That’s not Japa. And please, qualify your data. Thank God, you told me it was 2023 figure,” he said.

He explained that the 2023 period coincided with disruptions in the education sector, including instability in academic calendars and weak institutional support. According to him, the situation has improved since then.

DHQ, residents disagree over alleged bombing of over 100 people in Zamfara

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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DHQ, residents disagree over alleged bombing of over 100 people in Zamfara

CONTROVERSY is currently trailing the reported bombing of scores of civilians in Tumfa village market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Reports emerged on Tuesday, May 12, that about 100 people were killed by military airstrike on the community, as part of efforts to stamp out insurgents in Nigeria.

Reacting to the claim, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the operation only targeted armed groups gathered in a known terrorist enclave.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, the DHQ described reports of mass civilian deaths as misleading, speculative and unverified.

The ICIR reports that a military airstrike on a market in Tumfa community allegedly killed at least 117 people and left several others injured, with residents claiming that both bandits and civilians were among the casualties.

According to a Daily Trust’s report, the bombardment took place on Sunday, the same day a separate Nigerian Air Force operation targeting armed groups hit Guradnayi, a community near Kusasu in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, reportedly killed 13 civilians.

In its statement, the DHQ said the May 10 operation was carried out by troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA following intelligence reports that suspected terrorist kingpins had gathered there to coordinate attacks on communities across the North-West.

The DHQ said the mission involved an air interdiction strike and noted that it was impossible to immediately determine casualty figures from the air operation. It maintained that a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment confirmed that several terrorists were neutralised.

The DHQ rejected allegations of civilian casualties, arguing that no credible or independently verified evidence had established that civilians were affected during the operation. It insisted that the target location was occupied solely by armed non-state actors posing a direct threat to innocent residents. 

However, community leaders and residents who spoke with AFP described how the deadly bombardment allegedly killed traders, food vendors, residents and bandits.

Residents said the market, located deep inside a forested area of Zurmi Local Government Area, had become a stronghold controlled by armed groups where civilians and bandits mixed freely due to the collapse of government authority in surrounding communities.

According to the report, a community leader, Garba Mashema, said the exact number of casualties remained unclear because both residents and armed groups regularly patronised the market.

According to the locals, dozens of injured victims were evacuated to hospitals in Shinkafi, Zurmi and Gusau for treatment.

The incident has since drawn condemnation from Amnesty International, which called for an independent probe into the strike.

The organisation alleged that more than 100 civilians were killed.

The rights group added that survivors described chaotic scenes at the market after the bombardment, with bodies scattered across the ground and injured victims rushed to hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafi and Gusau.

The Zamfara incident has also revived concerns over previous military airstrikes that reportedly hit civilians in conflict-ridden parts of northern Nigeria.

The ICIR reported that at least six children were killed during a military airstrike in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger on Sunday.

The children were said to be among about 15 civilians killed during the incident in Guradnayi, a village near Kusasu, where some villagers fleeing attacks by armed bandits were said to have taken shelter before the bombardment.

Nollywood mourns as actor Alexx Ekubo dies at 40

Esther Tomo
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Nollywood mourns as actor Alexx Ekubo dies at 40

POPULAR Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has died at the age of 40 after reportedly battling cancer for several months.

The actor reportedly passed away on Monday, May 11, after spending a long period away from the public due to health challenges.

News of his death became public on Tuesday after some of his colleagues in the movie industry shared emotional tributes on social media. Actress Funke Akindele, actors Bolanle Ninalowo and Godwin Nnadiekwe were among the first to mourn him publicly.

Reacting to the development on her Instagram story, Akindele wrote, “Hmmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time but guess you knew best. May your kind soul, rest in peace, Alex. ‘Ore mi like you fondly called, me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. Rest in Peace, Alex.”

Ninalowo also paid tribute to the late actor, writing, “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”

In his reaction, Nnadiekwe wrote, “I’m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m lost for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo. To think you already prepared your will, It’s heartbroken, I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend.”

As condolences continued to pour in from fans and colleagues, the actor’s family had yet to release an official statement as of the time of filing this report.

Ekubo had been noticeably absent from social media and public events for a long time, sparking concern among many of his followers. His final post on social media was shared in December 2024.

Widely known for his performances in romantic comedies and drama films, Ekubo became one of Nollywood’s most recognised actors over the years. He gained wider fame after featuring in the movie Weekend Getaway and was also first runner-up at the 2010 Mr Nigeria contest.

In 2020, he was listed among the “Most Influential People of African Descent” under 40 by the United Nations, in recognition of his impact in entertainment and social development across Africa.

Tinubu approves Nigeria’s bid to host 2026 CAF Awards

Esther Tomo
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Tinubu approves Nigeria’s bid to host 2026 CAF Awards

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s plan to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.

The approval was granted during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, after Tinubu met with CAF President Patrice Motsepe, according to a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday.

Consequently, Nigeria will take over from Morocco which has hosted the awards consecutively for the past three years if the bid sails through.

Among those present at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President, Amaju Pinnick, and CAF Acting General Secretary, Samson Adamu.

The NFF said the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly was scheduled to hold in October this year and would attract leading football administrators and officials from Africa.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has approved Nigeria’s proposed hosting of the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football, as well as this year’s CAF Awards Ceremony,” the statement read.

“The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly will take place in October this year,” it added.

The gathering is expected to bring together presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions, and top football stakeholders on the continent.

The CAF Awards is regarded as one of the biggest events in African football, recognising outstanding players, coaches, and other personalities who have made significant contributions to the sport.

Ekiti hails Jesudunsin’s 372 UTME score, second highest in over 10 years

Esther Tomo
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Ekiti hails Jesudunsin’s 372 UTME score, second highest in over 10 years

EKITI State Government has celebrated one of its indigenes, Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, following her outstanding performance in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), where she emerged as the highest scorer nationwide with 372 marks out of 400.

Her result was announced during the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja, on Monday, May 11, placing her among the top performers since the introduction of the computer-based examination in 2013. She is ranked as the second-highest UTME scorer recorded in over a decade.

Jesundunsin, who sat for the examination in Ogun State, is seeking admission into the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to study Medicine and Surgery. Her subject breakdown reportedly includes 98 in English Language, 98 in Chemistry, 94 in Physics, and 82 in Biology.

She is closely followed in the 2026 rankings by Enwere Kingsley Ikenna from Imo State with 370, and Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State with 369. Several other candidates also scored 368 and 367, reflecting intense competition in this year’s examination.

The ICIR reported that 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, reflecting a 10.5 per cent increase compared to the number that registered in 2025.

Lagos State recorded the highest number of candidates for the year with 381,814 registrations, followed by Ogun with 137,156, Oyo with 122,662, Kaduna with 103,498, and the Federal Capital Territory with 102,961.

In a statement issued by the Ekiti State Government, on Tuesday, Jesudunsin’s achievement was described as a product of discipline, vision, and determination.

“Greatness is not built overnight. It is the result of discipline, vision, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, an indigene of Ekiti State, has proven this truth by emerging as the top scorer in JAMB 2026 with an incredible score of 372/400.”

“Her ambition to study medicine at the University of Lagos is more than a personal dream. It is a reflection of the hope we hold for a new generation of leaders who will transform healthcare and society.”

Though the government did not announce a reward for the teenager; it described her performance as a source of pride for the state and an inspiration to students across the country.

According to a PUNCH’s report on Tuesday, the list of JAMB’s top scorers since 2013 is captured in the table below:

Serial No Year Candidate’s name  State of Origin Score
1 2026 Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin Ekiti 372
2 2025 Okeke Chinedu Christian Anambra 374
3 2024 Olowu Joseph Oluwasijibomi

 

Alayande David

 

Orukpe Joel Ehijele

 Ondo

 

 

Oyo

 

 

 

Edo

 367
4 2023 Umeh Kamsiyochukwu Nkechinyere Anambra 360
5 2022 Adebayo Eyimofe Oluwatofunmi Ekiti 362
6 2021 Monwuba Chibuzo Chibuikem Not disclosed 358
7 2020 Maduafokwa Egoagwuagwu Agnes Anambra 365
8 2019 Ezeunala Ekene Franklin Not disclosed 347
9 2018 Galadima Israel Zakari Borno 364
10 2017 Akingbulugbe Precious Ayomide State not disclosed 353
11 2016 Akenbor Adesuwa Osarugue (Edo) & Anonye Victory State not disclosed 359
12 2015 Ilukwe Lottachukwu Geraldine Not disclosed 332
13 2014 Onomejoh Princewill Not disclosed 299
14 2013 Olise Israel Chukwunalu Not disclosed 299

 

 

 

 

2026 Kurt Schork Awards open to journalists

Blessing OTOIBHI
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2026 Kurt Schork Awards open to journalists

THE Kurt Schork Memorial Fund (KSMF) invites freelance journalists, local reporters and news fixers from around the world to submit entries for the 25th annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism.

The Awards recognise excellence and courage in reporting conflict, corruption, injustice and human rights issues, with winners receiving a $5,000 cash prize. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports the number of journalists killed in 2025 reached 93 – the second highest total since the records began. As levels of violence and intimidation against media professionals surge, this recognition remains as vital as ever.

Named in memory of American freelance journalist Kurt Schork, who was killed in 2000 while on assignment for Reuters in Sierra Leone, the Awards recognise the bravery of journalists who take great personal risk, often for little reward, to shine a light on the truth and hold power to account.

The three award categories, open to those reporting for print and online publications, recognise the media professionals that Kurt particularly admired.

The categories are: Freelance Award: recognising freelance journalists who travel to the world’s conflict zones, usually at great personal risk, to witness and report on the impact and consequences of these events; Local Reporter Award: recognising the often-overlooked work of journalists in developing nations, or countries in transition, who write about events in their homeland.

The awards include News Fixer Award, recognising the work of local journalists or experts, typically hired by foreign correspondents, whose guidance and local knowledge play an unsung but vital role in facilitating international coverage from difficult, dangerous or hostile locations.

Entrants for the Local Reporter and Freelance Awards must submit three articles each, published between June 01, 2025 and June 14, 2026. The judges will look for journalistic excellence in applicants’ submissions and evidence of determination and courage in obtaining their stories.

Deadline for application is June 14, 2026. Interested applicants can apply here.

AEDC fails to restore power to Abuja communities after 2-day outage plea

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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AEDC fails to restore power to Abuja communities after 2-day outage plea

RESIDENTS of Lugbe, Airport Road, Gaduwa and parts of Apo in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have continued to endure power outage after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) announced a planned blackout for two days in the communities.

The ICIR reports that the AEDC had in a circular informed residents of the communities of a planned two-day outage scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10 respectively.

The company explained that the outage was at the instance of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA) to enable the relocation of critical electricity infrastructure along the 33kV feeders H21 and H23, as well as the 11kV feeder H1A in the Gaduwa District.

However, by Tuesday morning, many residents said power had yet to return to their communities, worsening living conditions amid intense heat and rising fuel costs.

A resident of Lugbe, Grace David, described the situation as frustrating and saddening, saying the lack of electricity had made life unbearable.

“We were promised light. This government promised us light. I believe Nigeria as a country can give its citizens 24-hour light. I don’t know why we don’t have light for the past two to three days now, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s very saddening,” she said.

According to her, residents had expected electricity supply to be restored quickly after the two days, noting that power had not been restored as of Tuesday morning. 

“We thought they would restore the light. Sunday passed, Monday passed, and now we still don’t know what is happening. I work online and I also run a business. How am I supposed to survive?” she asked. She further questioned the essence of paying taxes amid worsening services across different sectors of the nation’s economy.

“When I pay tax, I expect good roads, water and light. But now it feels like I’m just giving out money, and nothing is working for me,” she added.

Her frustration mirrors growing complaints of residents in Gaduwa and parts of Apo, who have been venting anger over poor electricity supply and repeated outages.

Linda Josephe, a resident of Gudawa said that the outage had disrupted her food business and cost her damages.

I have thrown spoiled food away and it’s collapsing my business. This is another failed promise by AEDC,” she said.

For many residents, the blackout has gone beyond inconvenience and is now affecting livelihoods.

Several X users criticised AEDC for failing to communicate clearly after the promised restoration date elapsed, while on other social media platforms, residents described repeated power outages in the nation’s capital and the country at large as “normalised suffering.” They llamented the effects on citizens’ health, businesses, and food storage, businesses.

“Here you said two days (Saturday and Sunday) and by 3:40pm Monday, power has not been restored in Lugbe. What’s going on?,” Oladipo Oyebode on X queried.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AEDC, Chijioke Okwuokenye, in response to The ICIR’s enquiries on the delayed restoration, acknowledged that the road construction project encountered technical complications during the relocation of transmission infrastructure.

“When you talk about construction, there are unique challenges that could occur. FCDA ran into complications in the execution of the tower relocation that they were doing. There were some complications. So, yesterday we joined them to help them resolve those complications. Project work is not a new project. There were technical complications,” he said. 

Okwuokenye explained that power would be restored immediately the reconstruction is completed.

“I’m very hopeful that today the job should be completed because my team now has taken it over and they are trying to help FCDA complete it. Once the job is completed, it will be powered immediately. It’s just to reconstruct the line. Once the line is there, the power will be restored,” he added.

Beyond the current outage, Okwuokenye admitted that Lugbe, Airport Road and surrounding communities face deeper electricity infrastructure problems.

“Honestly, we are doing a lot. There is supposed to be a transmission station in Lube. There’s supposed to be another transmission station in Kuje, unless the transmission in those areas is completed, it’s going to be difficult to guarantee reliable power. However, things are already planned,” he said.

The MD said that AEDC was considering alternative interventions, including solar power projects, although such plans might take months before implementation.

“We are looking at installing solar plants to relieve the current challenges, but that could take about eight months. My hope is that by the first quarter of 2027, either through transmission upgrades or solar deployment, the issue can improve significantly,” he added.

 

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